From the Superintendent
The 2026-27 school year is upon us! Are you ready?
The advent of a new school year often brings with it a range of emotions from excitement to apprehension. This is all to be expected and usually begins to settle by the end of the first week of school. It is our hope, and our goal, to help each of our students feel a sense of belonging to school and the MSAD 51 community.
The past summer was productive and incredibly busy as the One Campus project continues to take shape. The campus has, in many ways, been transformed to the intended design for the foreseeable future. Here is the updated status of summer construction projects:
- Addition to MIW now completed with four new classrooms and small group spaces ready for students
- Carolyn F. Small School construction progress hit the 50% mark over the summer
- Campus Drive was reconfigured and paved between Main Street and the track
- New parking lots and bus loop areas added in front of CFS School
- Sidewalks added to Campus Drive and Tuttle Road
- Renovation of GHS science wing with new HVAC systems
- Complete roof replacement at Mabel I. Wilson School
- Substantial electrical upgrade/code compliance at Greely High School
- MIW internal renovations to multiple spaces, including a reconfigured STEM room, addition of new playground hallway /entrance, moving nurse’s station, additional office space, staff room upgrades, new restraint/seclusion room, toilet retrofits, and enclosure of central stairwell to conform to code
- Coming soon: Resurfacing the outdoor track and replacing the outdated GHS intercom system
- Past One Campus projects completed in summer 2025: Turf field and new Maintenance building
Campus Drive, which winds through the heart of MSAD 51, has been reconfigured to make way for the bus loop and entrance to the new Carolyn F. Small School, which will open in August 2027. As a result, parking spaces on the GCA side of GHS have been reduced and overall parking spaces at the high school have returned to previous levels before the 2025-26 year. Student parking has shifted back to the pool side of the high school where additional spaces were added a year ago in anticipation of the changes to Campus Drive this summer.
Much of the construction focus over the next ten months will be on successful completion of the Carolyn F. Small School. As was the case last year, we will be providing regular communications about construction progress and traffic/parking updates in the district newsletter.
Administrators and staff have worked hard to set the stage for a successful year as we get ready for students on day 1. For quick reference, here's a reminder about the schedule for the first week of school:
Monday, August 31 First day for Grades 1-9
Tuesday, September 1 First day for Grades 10-12
Wednesday, September 2 First day for Kindergarten
Thursday, September 3 First day for Pre-Kindergarten
Wishing you the very best as we wind down the summer and start the 2026-27 school year together.
Regards,
Jeff Porter 
Welcoming staff back for the 2026-27 School Year!
Completed addition at MIW
Notices from the Office of the Superintendent
Welcome Back Students & Families!
As we welcome students back for a new school year, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we are working through some transportation office transitions.
During the first days of school, bus pick-up and drop-off times may vary as we fine-tune routes, adjust to student needs, and work through any unexpected challenges. With that said, students may want to arrive 5-10 minutes early to their bus stop to ensure they are present when the bus arrives.
Please also keep in mind that traffic, road construction, and other travel conditions can affect bus travel times. Our transportation team is working diligently to keep routes running safely and efficiently.
We appreciate your patience as we get the school year underway. Thank you for partnering with us to make the start of the year a safe and successful one for all of our students.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the transportation office directly or call your child’s school.
Welcome back, and have a great school year! 
Track Resurfacing Project
Please note that our track resurfacing project will begin Monday, August 31, 2026. The work is expected to take approximately two weeks, during which time the track will be closed and off limits to students, staff, families, and community members.
This temporary closure will allow the contractor to safely complete the necessary resurfacing work, repaint lines and ensure the track is ready for use when the project is finished.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation while this important improvement is underway. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the track once the project is complete.
Thank you for your understanding.
🎉 Seven years of excellence!
We are thrilled to share that this year marks the 7th consecutive year that Greely High School has been recognized as the Best High School in Maine by U.S. News & World Report!
And the good news doesn’t stop there! Greely Middle School and Mabel I. Wilson School also earned Top 10 rankings in Maine for their respective school divisions.
We are incredibly proud of our students, staff, families, and community for the continued commitment to excellence that makes these achievements possible.
New Regional ELO Program Is Growing Tomorrow’s Real Estate Professionals
Greely High School students are gaining real-world experience and exploring future career opportunities through a new regional Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) focused on the real estate industry. The program brought together 21 students from eight southern Maine high schools, including Greely, for hands-on learning, job shadowing, and exposure to the many career pathways within real estate. We’re proud to see our students taking advantage of innovative opportunities that connect classroom learning with the professional world!
Read the full article from the Maine DOE
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MSAD #51 Board of Directors Information
All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm in the Gyger Room at Greely High School. For those of you unfamiliar with that room, the Gyger Room can be accessed from the GHS parking lot (the side without the electronic sign).
August 31 - Board Workshop
Remember you can watch our meetings on YouTube LIVE (http://bit.ly/msad51livevideo)
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Our Community Partners are strong supporters of various areas of the school. Without them, our students would not have many of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that they receive.
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Greely Center for the Arts Events
If you would like something included in our weekly newsletter, please send a brief write up with title along with a JPEG or PNG image of your flyer (if applicable) to Melissa Porter for approval. The deadline each week is Wednesday. Any requests received after Wednesday will be reviewed for possible submission in the following week's newsletter. All approved submissions will be posted on the district's website.
Not all items in this email are MSAD #51 sponsored programs. If you need more information, please contact the group or organization that is sponsoring the event.
357 Tuttle Road, PO Box 6A, Cumberland, ME 04021
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